Process for preparing vinyl ketone adducts



Martin W. Farrar, Webster Groves, Mo., assignor to Mon- 1 A -polyhydronaphthalenes.

I tural .formula where R is a 4-carbon atom chain such as i which chain links adjacent or ortho carbon atoms of the 2,812,345 Patented Nov. 5, 1957 ited States Patent 1 hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene 2812346 1 hydroxymethylene 2 -keto 4a methyl A hexa- PROCESS FOR PREPARING VINYL KETON hydfonaphthalenfi v ADDUCTS 5 1 hydroxymethylene -2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene santo Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo., :1 corporation of Delaware with a vinyl ketone of the aforedescribed formula in the 1 presence of a quaternary ammonium alkoxide of the No Drawing. Application January 27, 19 54, 10 formula 11 Claims. (Cl. 260-468) where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are hydrocarbon groups such as alkyl (e. g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, amyl, hexyl, octyl, etc.), cycloalkyl (e. g. cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl), and aralkyl (e.' g. benzyl, phenethyl, etc.) and where R5 20, is alkyl (e. g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, amyl,,hexyl,

This invention relates to the preparation of vinyl kel5 tone adducts of 1-hydroxymethylene-2-keto-4a-methyl- In the preparation of vinyl ketone adducts of the struc- H C octyl, etc.). This new process provides a means whereby l the vinyl ketone adducts are prepared conveniently, ecof nomically and in improved yields over that employed herei I tofore. 7 J 5. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art the 'l-hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl A polyhydronaphthalene reactants of this invention have two asymmetric carbon atoms and thusly exist in the form of four optically active isomers or as two racemates (i. e. cis and it been custdmary to react ayl hydroxymethylene z 30 transracemic mixtures of dextro and levo rotatory iso- 1 d th 16 of the tructuralv mers). such forms of the reactants in any and all posfiigif A PC yhy ronaph a ne 8 slble lcombinatlons are contemplated by this lnvention.

The terms cis and trans as used herein indicate the spatial H O H, configuration of CH3 and H at positlons 4a and 8a respecl tively in the structural formula.

'1 I u l I The process of this invention is carried out in an an- I I hydrous media and in the presence of an inert organic 0:0 C- solvent such as benzene, toluene, dioxane, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, tert. butanol, pentasol, etc. In gen- 1] V 0 eral temperatures in the range of 0 to 60 C. can be employed, however, it is preferred that the reaction temperature be about 10 to C.

H As illustrative of the preparation of the vinyl ketone CH2 CH2 CH2 C 2 adduct of a 1-hydroxymethylene-2-keto-4a-methyl-poly- CH2--CH=CH hydronaphthalene is the following and Example I To a suitable reaction vessel is added 100 grams of dl trans 1 hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl- A -hexahydronaphthalene nucleus as described with a vinyl ketone of the formula R0Hr(on2 oH=oH,

O where n is an integer from 0 to 2 inclusive and where R is hydrogen or a carboalkoxy group 3 g (alkyl-OC) I 110/ 0 \CH in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide. However, the yields have been found to be poor and the catalyst ditlicult to handle. .Since such vinyl ketone adducts upon treatment with a suitable agent ring close to provide polyhydrophenanthrene compoundswhich are important intermediates in the synthesis of steroidal compounds of the cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series, the art has sought means to provide a commercially-feasible process. 5

According to the process of this invention vinyl ketone adducts of 1-hydroxymethylene-2-keto-4a-methyl A -polyhydronaphthalenes are prepared by reacting a l-hydroxy methylene 2 keto 4a methyl A polyhydronaphthalene, such as 1 hydroxymethylene 2.- keto 4a methyl A octahydronaphtha lene i r i JHOH approximately 60 grams of ethyl vinyl ketone and apyield r of methyl A -hexahydronaphthalene'isobtained. This vinyl ketone adduct upon treatment with potassium hydroxide in aqueous dioxane ringcloses i to form HI-anti trans-BamethyLA -octahydrophenanthren 2-one (M. -P. 76-

This vinyl ketone adduct upon treatment with potassium hydroxide in aqueous dioxane ring closes to form dl-antitrans 1,8a dimethyl M octahydrophenanthren- 2-one (M. P. 72-73 C.).

In a similar manner but employing methyl vinyl ketone in Example I in place 'of ethyl vinyl ketone an improved dl trans-l formyl l-(3 ketobuty1)-2-keto-4a- Example '11 Employing the process of Example I but replacing--211- transd-hydroxymethylene 2- keto-4a-methyl-A hexahydronaphthalene with the-levo-rotatory isomer of. transl-hydroxymethylene 2 keto-4a-methyl-A hexahydronaphthalene there: is. obtained substantially the same yield of the crystalline levo-rotatory isomer of trans-l-formyl- This isomer upon treatment with potassium hydroxide in aqueous 'dioxane ringcloses to formithe'white crystalline love-rotatory isomerof'antitrans- 138a dimethyl A QctahydrQphenanthren-Z- one.

'Example III Employingthe process of Example I but replacing dltrans-1hydroxymethylene 2 -keto-4a-methyl-A -hexahydronaphthalene with dl-cis 1 hydrOXymethyIene Z-ketO- 4a-methyl-A -hexahydronaphthalene there is obtained a good yield of .dl-cis-lformyl-l-(3-ketopentyl) 2-keto-4a- "methyl-n hexahydronaphthalene.

Example IV To a suitable reactiomvesselis added 35 grams of the levo-rotatory isomer of trans-l-hydroxymethylene-2-keto- 4a-methyl-A rhexahydrouaphthalene, approximately 17.5 grams ofmethyl -vinyl ketone and approximately 9725 grams of tert. butanol. The mix-is agitated and cooled to C. The air of the system is replaced by nitrogen and with agitation there. is added 30 cubic centimeters of 29.8% benzyl trimethyl ammonium n-butoxide in nbutauol. Thereupon approximately 29 grams of tert.- butanol is added with agitationover about 30 minutes. The mix is then heldat about -l0 C. for one hour and then permitted to stand at room temperature for about 16 hours. The solution is seeded with the levo-rotatory isomer of trans-l-formyl-1-(3 ketobutyl)-2-keto-4a-methyl-A -hexahydronaphthalene. To the so seeded reaction The resultant mass is filtered, washed with'petroleum ether and dried. The residue (38.8 grams, 81% of theory yield), awhitecrystalline material is the .levo-rotatory isomer of trans-1- formyl-l( 3 -ketobutyl) 2-keto-4a-methyl-A -hexahydronaphthalene. This vinyl ketonetadduct upon treatment withpotassiumhydroxidering closesto form the' levorotatory isomer of 'antietranswSaamethyI-A =oeta- .hydrophenanthren-kone.

*4 Example V To a suitable reaction vessel is added approximately 53 grams of 5keto-6-heptenoic acid methyl ester CHaO-$|l-CHr-CHz-CH;(|]JCH=CHI approximately 'SOgrams of the levo-rotatory isomer of trans-l-hydroxymethylene -2 keto-4a-methyl-A -hexahydronaphthalene and approximately .55 grams of tert.

butanol. The air'oftthe system is replaced-by nitrogen and with agitation there is added 9 cubic centimeters of 30% benzyl trimethyl ammonium n-butoxide in n-butanol.

Thereupon-approximately 13 grams of tert. butanol is hexahydrona ih'thalene. etherisadded with agitation whileicooling to about 0 C.

propanol.

added with agitation. The mix is then allowed to stand at room temperature ffor about -42 hours. The solution is seeded with the levo-rotatory isomer of trans-l-formyll-(3,7-diketo 7 methoxyheptyl)-2-keto-4a-methyl?A An equal volume of petroleum The mass is filtered and the residue washed with iso- Upon 'drying 40.5 grams of a white crystalline substance melting at 60-64 C. identified as the levorotatory isomer of trans-1-formyl-l-(3,7-diketo-7-methoxyheptyD-Z keto-4a-methyl-A -hexahydronaphthalene is obtained. This vinyl ketone adduct upon treatment with potassium hydroxide [ring closes to form the levorotatory isomer of anti-trans-1 (3-methoxy-3-ketopropyl)- 8a-methyl-A -octahydrophenanthren-2-one which upon hydrolyzing forms the keto. acid, i. e. levo-antitrans-l-(fi carboxyethyl) .-8a-methyl-A -octahydrophenanthren-Z-one.

Employing other alkyl. esters of 5-keto-6-heptenoic acid such as the ethyl, propyl, .butyl, etc., in the process described in Example -Vthe corresponding l-formyl-1-(3,7-

diketo-7-alkoxyheptyl) 2 keto-4a-methyl-A -hexahydronaphthalene is obtained.

The catalysts of'this'invention may' be employed in any amount sufficientato catalyzetthe reaction. It has been found convenient toincorporate the catalyst in the reac tionvzmass in the 'form of -an alcoholic solution thereof. LOf'the newffamily'ofcatalysts of theprocessof this invention the preferredgroup are athoseof structural forwhere R1, R2 and R3 are straight chain alkyl radicals contai-ning ;1 to 4 carbon atoms, where :R4' is benzyl, and

-where R5is a branched ortstraightchain alkyl. radical containing :2-6 carbon .atoms. *As illustrative of operable catalystsware Tetraethyl ammonium isopropoxide Tetraethyli ammonium. n-butoxide .Tetraethyl' ammonium isobutoxide Tetra n-propyl ammonium .nb,utoxide Trimethyl :benzyl ammonium n-butoxide Trimethyl benzyl ammonium. isobutoxide Triethyl benzyl ammonium n-butoxide Triethyl benzyl ammonium isobutoxide Dimethyl dibenzyl ammonium .n-butoxide Dimethyl dibenzyl ammonium tert. "butoxide Diethyl :dibenzyl ammonium n-butoxide While the quantities of reactants otthisinvention will vary widely such 'will depend upon the particular reactants involved. It is preferred that a slight excess of the theoretical amount of the vinyl ketone'reactant, preferably not more than a 20% mol. excess, be employed. i While this invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments it is not so limited and it is to be understood that variations and modifications thereofmay be made without departing from the scope o'r spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In the method of making a vinyl ketone adduct of the structural formula the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous medium a vinyl ketone of the formula Where n is an integer from to 2 inclusive and where R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and carboalkoxy groups whose alkyl substituents are lower alkyl radicals with a l-hydr-oxymethylene 2 keto 4amethyl A polyhydronaphthalene of the structural formula where R is a 4-carbon atom chain containing as sole substituents from 6 to 8 hydrogen atoms in the presence of a quarternary ammonum alkoxide of the formula where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are hydrocarbon groups containing not more than eight carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl and aralkyl and where R is an alkyl radical containing not more than eight carbon atoms.

2. In the method of making a vinyl ketone adduct of the structural formula the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous inert organic solvent medium a vinyl ketone of the formula wherein the alkyl group contains not more than two carbon atoms with 1-hydroxyrnethylene-2-keto-4a-methyl- A hexahydronaphthalene in the presence of a quaternary ammonium alkoxide of the formula p [RI-III-R: 0R5 R4 7 wherejRr, Rz an d'Rs are straight chain alkyl radicals containing 1-4 carbon atoms, where R4 is benzyl, and where R5 is an alkyl radical containing 2-6 carbon atoms.

3. In the method of making a trans-1-f0rmyl-1-(3- ketopentyl) 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous inert organic solvent medium ethyl vinyl ketone with a trans-l-hydroxymethylene-2-keto-4a-methyl- A hexahydronaphthalene in the presence of a quaternary ammonium butoxide of the formula where R1, R2 and R3 are straight chain alkyl radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and where R4 is benzyl.

4. In the method of making a trans-1-formyl-1-(3- ketobutyl) 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous inert organic solvent medium methyl vinyl ketone with a trans 1 hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl- A hexahydronaphthalene in the presence of a quaternary ammonium butoxide of the formula where R1, R2 and R3 are straight chain alkyl radicals containing l to 4 carbon atoms and where R4 is benzyl.

5. In the method of making a trans-1-formyl-1-(3,7- diketo 7 methoxyheptyl) 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous inert organic solvent medium the methyl ester of 5 keto 6 heptenoic acid with a trans 1- hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene in the presence of a quaternary ammonium butoxide of the formula where R1, R2 and R are straight chain alkyl radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and where R4 is benzyl.

6. In the method of making the levo-rotatory isomer of trans 1 formyl 1 (3 ketopentyl) 2 keto- 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous inert organic solvent medium and at a temperature in the range of about 10 to 30 C. ethyl vinyl ketone with the levo-rotatory isomer of 1 hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene in the presence of a catalytic amount of trimethyl benzyl ammoninum n-butoxide.

7. In the method of making the levo-rotatory isomer of trans 1 formyl 1 (3 ketobutyl) 2 keto- 4amethyl A hexahydronaphthalene the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous inert organic solvent medium and at a temperature in the range of about 10 to 30 C. methyl vinyl ketone with the levo-rotatory isomer of l hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene in the presence of a catalytic amount of trimethyl benzyl ammonium n-butoxide.

8. In the method of making the levo-rotatory isomer of trans 1 formyl l (3,7 diketo 7 methoxyheptyl) 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene the step which comprises reacting in an anhydrous inert organic solvent medium and at a temperature in the range of about 10 to 30 C. the methyl ester of 5 keto- 6-heptenoic acid with the levo-rotatory isomer of l-hydroxymethylene 2 keto 4a methyl A hexahydronaphthalene in the-presence of a eatalytieamount of'tri- Rum 'Citedin thefileoftfik patent methyl benzyl ammonium-n-butoxidc; UNITED, STATESYATENTS 9. The process of claim 5 employing tert. butanol as V i as the z mm amp u 5 2,694,687 Bennevillcet a1;-.- ;.(Nov. 16;-1954 1 1. The. process of claim 8 employing: tert. butanol OTHER REFERENCES 

1. IN THE METHOD OF MAKING A VINYL KETONE ADDUCT OF THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA 